The Economics of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Projects

Authors

  • Mark Wilf RO Technology, California, USA
  • Raphael Semiat Chem. Eng. Faculty, Technion IIT, Israel

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6037.2016.05.02.5

Keywords:

Desalination, Reverse osmosis, energy, investment, cost

Abstract

Desalination applications based on reverse osmosis (RO) technology today comprise over 50% of the capacity of all desalination systems worldwide and represent 75-85% of new desalination projects being implemented. The major reason for the shift in desalination projects to RO technology is the high energy efficiency of the RO process. There are three major application categories of large capacity, RO-based desalination projects: brackish RO; advanced municipal wastewater reclamation; and seawater RO. In the two first categories (brackish RO and wastewater reclamation), the systems’ configuration and equipment components are well defined. Therefore, project costs and operating expenses are fairly predictable. In seawater RO desalination systems, the RO process configuration is also very similar; however, some variability exists regarding the configuration of seawater water delivery and feed water pretreatment. The rest of the system’s components and system operation methods are very uniform. However, an evaluation of published cost data of medium- to large-scale water RO desalination projects illustrates significant variability in costs of desalination systems.

This paper will analyze current economic conditions of seawater desalination, and highlight the limitations and possibilities of additional improvements of the economics of the SWRO desalination process.

References

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Wilf M. The Guidebook to Membrane Technology for Wastewater Reclamation. Wastewater Treatment, Pollutants, Membrane Filtration, Membrane Bioreactors, Reverse Osmosis, Fouling, UV Oxidation, Process Control, Implementation, Economics, Commercial Plants Design, with chapters by C. Bartels, D. Bloxom, J. Christopher, A. Festger, K. Khoo, V. Frenkel, J. Hudkins, J. Muller, G. Pearce R. Reardon and A. Royce, Balaban Desalination Publications (January 2010).

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Annon, Compilation of RO membrane elements performance data from different manufacturers on the internet.

Annon, Information on desalination cost taken from different sources on the internet.

Heather Cooley Newsha Ajami, Key Issues for Seawater Desalination in California: Cost and Financing November 2012 Editors Nancy Ross and Paula Luu, Pacific Institute.

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Published

2016-07-27

How to Cite

Wilf, M., & Semiat, R. (2016). The Economics of Reverse Osmosis Desalination Projects. Journal of Membrane and Separation Technology, 5(2), 69–76. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-6037.2016.05.02.5

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Section

Articles